Note: Javascript is disabled or is not supported by your browser. For this reason, some items on this page will be unavailable. For more information about this message, please visit this page: About CDC.gov.

The Li Tungsten Site, which is on the National
Priorities List, is
on the North Shore of Nassau County, near Hempstead Harbor in the
City of Glen Cove. A portion of the site borders Glen Cove Creek.
The site presents a public health hazard because people were
probably exposed to a substance or substances in the environment at
concentrations that
can cause adverse health effects from long term
exposures. Low levels
of radioactive slag are in piles throughout
the site and drums of radioactive slag are in an on-site building.
Trespassers have probably come in contact with on-site surface
soils, waste water, and sediment contaminated with polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) and metals. Trespassers may have also been
exposed to external gamma radiation from on-site drums and piles of
low level radioactive slag/ore. On-site groundwater is
contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and metals, but
no exposures are expected because no one is using this water for
any purpose. Glen Cove Creek borders part of the site to the
south. People using Glen Cove Creek for recreation purposes may be
exposed to VOCs and metals in its surface water. Glen Cove Creek
sediments are contaminated with metals and people could be exposed
to contaminants if
sediments are dredged and placed where they may
be available for human contact. The site is fenced and security
guards are present; however, trespassing onto site properties is
occurring, which may result in exposure to on-site contaminants and
radionuclides. Trespassers may also come in contact with many
physical hazards.

The community of Glen Cove have expressed the following health
concerns regarding the Li Tungsten site:

1)

Is there an excess rate of cancers in Glen Cove which might be
related to the Li Tungsten site and other industrial sites?

2)

Is the site adequately secured to prevent trespassers from
entering onto Li Tungsten property?

3)

Are former employees of Li Tungsten at an increased risk for
health effects due to their work exposures?

4)

Is there a potential for the off-site migration of
contaminants from Li Tungsten?

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's
(ATSDR)
Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) have determined that
community health
education is needed to inform the public of the
possible hazards associated with trespassing on-site. The site is
not being considered for other follow-up health actions at this
time.

Recommendations made for further action at this site include
additional investigations of the soil, surface water, groundwater,
and water and sediment of Glen Cove Creek to identify all potential
chemical and radiological exposure pathways that may be associated
with the site. Also, further investigations should include a
detailed radiation survey to evaluate the site and to recommend appropriate actions for
stabilization,storage, and ultimate removal
of the radioactive ore and slag that is currently on-site.

The public health actions to be implemented by the NYS DOH are: (1)
routine inspections of the site perimeter, (2) further evaluation
of the effect of chemical emissions from the Toxic Chemical Release
Inventory (TRI) facilities on local ambient air, (3) evaluation
of
the options for maintaining site security and making
recommendations to appropriate agencies, (4) written notification
to nearby residents of hazards associated with trespassing on-site,
(5) replacement of 24 hour site security by the US EPA, and (6)
carrying out of interim remedial actions by the US EPA to reduce
hazards to future remedial investigation workers.

All figures and tables in this preliminary public health assessment
are in Appendices A and B, respectively.

The Li Tungsten site is in the City of Glen Cove, Nassau County
(Figure 1). The site is in an industrial area on about 26 acres
along the north bank of Glen Cove Creek.

The site consists of three separate parcels with buildings and
structures on two of the three parcels. The parcels are designated
as A, B and C (see Figure 2). Parcel A is the largest parcel and
is bordered by Herbhill Road to the north, Garvies Point Road to
the west and the Glen Cove Creek to the south. Parcel B is the
smallest parcel and is a partially wooded lot that does not have
any structures on it. The northern end of parcel B was used as a
landfill and waste pile storage. The southern end of parcel B was
used for parking. Parcel C borders Dickson Lane and Garvies Point
Road to the east. This parcel was used mainly as a parking lot.
The Reduction building was used for processing and the Dickson
Warehouse was used for storing materials. Parcel C contains a
perimeter section, labelled C' in Figure 2, that was not part of
the site property during the operational period.

The Li Tungsten site was operated from the 1940's to about 1985, by
a succession of different corporate entities, the last of which was
the Li Tungsten Corporation. The site has nine buildings (Figure
2). The Li Tungsten site operations involved the processing of ore
and scrap tungsten to make tungsten carbide powder and tungsten
powder.

Prior to the 1990 United States Environmental Protection Agency (US
EPA) Emergency Removal Action, the site had large quantities of
laboratory reagents, hazardous materials in drums and tanks,
asbestos, transformers, and gas cylinders containing compressed
liquids and gases. Elemental mercury was spilled in an on-site
building which has since been partially remediated. The remaining
elemental mercury is confined to an area beneath a large piece of
equipment. There are piles of slag emitting low level beta or
gamma radiation throughout the site. Hundreds of tanks and about
eight underground tanks are on the property. Hundreds of rusted
drums are located throughout the site, both inside and outside the
buildings. The majority of these drums contain low level
radioactive, residual process ore and most are stored in the Dice
Building. There are two unlined settling ponds, one lined settling
pond and three concrete oil recovery sumps; also, one portion of
the property was used for a landfill. The site was added to the
National Priorities List in October 1992.

On April 14, 1989 the US EPA received a request from the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) to perform
a removal action at the Li Tungsten Facility. On April 16, 1989
the US EPA Response and Prevention Branch, with assistance from US
EPA - Office of Radiation Programs, performed a preliminary
assessment of the site. Subsequently, the US EPA issued an
Administrative Order on Consent to the current owners of the
property, Glen Cove Development Corporation (GCDC), to stabilize
all potential threats to the public and the environment.

The GCDC conducted interim remedial actions at the Li Tungsten site
and Fred C. Hart Associates, an environmental consulting firm, was
retained by GCDC to perform the interim actions specified in the
Administrative Order on Consent. A public meeting was held by the
Mayor of Glen Cove on June 13, 1989. Representatives from the US
EPA, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR),
Nassau County Department of Health (NC DOH), NYS DEC, New York
State Department of Health (NYS DOH), and a physician from the
State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook were present.

GCDC's consultant, Hart Environmental Management Corporation, began
field activities at the site on June 16, 1989. In March, 1990 all
emergency removal actions including removal of the radioactive
sources in the lead vault and other high level radioactive
materials were completed. Also, all drums containing waste
chemicals were removed from the site. The US EPA began an
investigation in March, 1990 to determine if the site qualified for
inclusion on US EPA's Superfund National
Priorities List (NPL).
The site investigation was conducted by NUS Corporation consultants
and a report was completed in September 28, 1990.

The US EPA is developing a work plan for a Remedial
Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) which will further
characterize the extent of contamination and evaluate alternatives
for cleaning up the site. Public meetings were held by the US EPA
in Glen Cove on March 9, and May 17, 1993. Representatives from
the US EPA, NC DOH, NYS DEC, NYS DOH and Glen Cove City Council
members were present at both meetings.

The US EPA is working with the community of Glen Cove to establish
a citizen's task force to address the clean-up of the Li Tungsten
site. Clean Sites, a not-for-profit organization is working under
a cooperative agreement with the US EPA to conduct a pilot study to
evaluate interactive decision making at superfund sites.
Representatives of the US EPA, NYS DEC, NC DOH, NYS DOH, local
community, local government, and local environmental interest
groups are all part of the Li Tungsten Task Force. Clean Sites and
the US EPA started development of the Task Force in May 1993. Task
force public meetings are held in Glen Cove every month and began
in July 1993.

The US EPA issued an Administrative Order on Consent to have site
owners conduct interim emergency removal action measures. The
interim remedial actions implemented from June 1989 through March
1990 were:

Repairs were made to fencing where damaged. This action
should reduce the potential for exposure to site related
contaminants and radionuclides.

Materials with elevated radioactivity readings were removed
from the site. A large pile of ore slag was moved from the
fenced area of the main parcel and stored in the west Dice
Building. This action should reduce the potential for
exposures to site related radionuclides.

Field characterization, radiological screening and chemical
analyses of all drums suspected of containing waste chemicals
were completed. Laboratory chemicals and drums containing
waste chemicals were removed from the site. This action
should reduce the potential for exposure to contaminants.

An inventory of 223 tanks at the site was completed. This
action should identify any potential sources of contamination.

Bulk samples were obtained and analyzed for asbestos; some
asbestos was removed from the site, but friable asbestos
remains.

Transformers were identified on-site and some contained PCBs;
these transformers were drained and removed from the site.
This action should prevent contact with chemicals of concern.

The identified spill of elemental mercury was remediated; any
remaining elemental mercury is confined to an area beneath a
large piece of equipment and is not easily accessible. This
action should prevent contact with chemicals of concern.

Twenty-four cylinders were removed for reclamation by their
owner. Two unknown cylinders remain on-site. Additional
materials removed from the site include anhydrous ammonia and
a pint of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide. This action should
prevent contact with chemicals of concern.

The NYS DOH has requested the US EPA take additional measures to
improve present security at the Li Tungsten site. In February
1992, the site owners hired a new security company to replace the
previous security company which was apparently ineffective in
providing adequate security. In July 1992, the US EPA posted
hazard warning signs at various appropriate locations on the site
perimeter to warn potential intruders of the possible exposure
hazards and to deter unauthorized entry. These actions were
expected to deter unauthorized entry to the site.

M. Reynolds and D. Miles, of the NYS DOH, inspected the site in
January 1992. Nassau County Department of Health (NC DOH) staff
accompanied NYS DOH staff. William Condon also of the NYS DOH and
Robert Theesfeld of the NC DOH visited the site on June 14, 1989 to
obtain soil samples to analyze for radionuclides. The main office
and labs were on the south side of Herb Hill Road (Figure 2). The
former landfill area is a strip of land between Herb Hill Road and
a road named "The Place". There are no buildings in the former
landfill area.

All portions of the site were fenced except where Glen Cove Creek
borders the southern boundary. A security guard, hired by the
owners of the site, was on-duty. With the exception of a gate
leading into the Dickson Warehouse, all entrance gates were locked
at the time of the NYS DOH site visit. However, during the 1992
inspection, we observed evidence of recent trespassing on site; the
security company appeared ineffective. No signs or warning
placards were evident on any of the site's fences. Locks to gates
were being cut as observed on the open gate leading to the Dickson
Warehouse and as reported by the NC DOH. Trespassers were driving
vehicles onto the site to dispose of household debris. This
assumption was made after seeing tire tracks on-site near a large
amount of household debris. A wooded area of the site had a
basketball hoop attached to a tree. The basketball hoop is on a
portion of property that was not used during any manufacturing. It
is fenced from the rest of the site. The basketball hoop was most
likely used by neighborhood children.

Many physical hazards are present on the site. All the buildings
on site are in disrepair and deteriorating. There are many empty
rusty drums, machinery and tanks throughout the site. The Dice
Building contains thousands of drums containing tungsten slag and
ore that are stacked three to four high.

A representative of the NC DOH visited the site in May 1992 at the
request of the NYS DOH to inspect the site perimeter and check the
effectiveness of the site security. All locks and site fences were
secure at the time of the visit. The site security guard was
present.

M. Schuck of the NYS DOH inspected the site perimeter in February
1993. Although a security guard was present and warning signs were
present, fences were broken in two areas leading to parcel C. Both
areas allow easy access for persons to enter the site. A
discussion with the site security guard indicates that the fences
were broken four weeks before the February, 1993 site visit. M.
Schuck inspected the site again in May, 1993 and one fence remained
broken.

L. Wilson of the NYS DOH inspected the site perimeter in September
1993. The wooden fence on the south end of parcel C remained
broken down. Also, a gate was broken on the east side of parcel A.
A security guard was not present at the time of the visit.

M. Schuck inspected the site perimeter in November, 1993. The
wooden fence on the south end of parcel C remained broken. A
security guard was not present at the time of the visit.

L. Lutzker of the NC DOH inspected the site perimeter in December,
1993. The wooden fence on the south end of the parcel C remained
broken. A security guard was not present at the time of the visit.

The Li Tungsten site employed about 1,000 persons from the early
1950's until the plant closed. There are currently three persons
working as security guards at the site. Each guard works an eight
hour shift. The security guards patrol the outside perimeter
fences only and do not patrol on-site.

The Li Tungsten site is in the City of Glen Cove about one-half
mile west of the downtown section of Glen Cove, New York. The
population is about 9,900 persons within a one-mile radius of the
site, 35,400 persons within two miles, and 67,900 persons within
four miles.

The Li Tungsten Site lies within census tract 5171.01, an area
covering 1.2 square miles within the Town of Glen Cove. The 1990
population for this census tract was estimated at 4,636 of which
7.1 percent of the population is under 5 years of age, 17.9 percent
is 5-19 years of age, 61.5 percent is 20-64 years of age and 13.5
percent is 65 years or older. The 1990 census estimated that 86.3
percent of the population is white, 8.5 percent is black and 5.2
percent is comprised of other races. The median household income
in 1979 for census tract 5171 was $23,646 with 1.9 percent of the
families with income below the poverty level.

Land Use

The site consists of three parcels and the main gate is located on
the south side of Herb Hill Road. The southern property line
borders Glen Cove Creek. The site is an industrial area with some
commercial activity. Residential properties are located north of
the site. The nearest residence is about 75 feet from the northern
end of parcel B on the north side of "The Place".

After the site was closed, the Li Tungsten site was to be a
residential development as was other nearby property. The
construction of a condominium project near the site was halted due
to the discovery of radiation and hazardous waste in the area.
This site is currently on New York State's Registry of Inactive
Hazardous Waste sites and is listed as Garvies Point (Captain's
Cove Condominiums) site.

Garvies Point Preserve is an undeveloped, nature-preserve park that
is about 1,000 feet to the northwest. Recreational use of the
preserve is limited to nature trails. The Glen Cove City public
ballfields are located about 1,300 feet southwest of the site,
south of Glen Cove Creek. Five other sites in the area are listed
on the New York State list of inactive hazardous waste sites;
Mattiace Petrochemical is adjacent to Edmos Corporation and both
are about 1,000 feet to the southwest; Powers Chemco is 700 feet
northeast of the main gate, Crown Dykman is adjacent to the east
side of Parcel B, and Captain's Cove Condominiums are about 1,700
feet southwest of the main gate on Garvies Point Road. In 1989,
radioactive soils believed to have originated at the Li Tungsten
site were found at the Captain's Cove site during a radiological
survey. The Captain's Cove condominiums are still unfinished and
therefore uninhabitable. The site was added to the New York State
list of inactive hazardous waste sites.

The southern property boundary of the Li Tungsten site is adjacent
to Glen Cove Creek. The creek is tidal in this area and leads to
Hempstead Harbor about 3,500 feet west of the site. Hempstead
Harbor is a side arm of Long Island Sound. A park and a marina are
at the mouth of the creek where it enters Hempstead Harbor, about
2,500 feet southwest of the site.

Glen Cove Creek contains a dredged shipping channel. The United
States Congress authorized the Unites States Army Corps of
Engineers (US ACE) to maintain Glen Cove Creek in 1925. The
channel was last dredged in 1965, where 6,300 cubic yards were
dredged and the material was disposed at the Captain's Cove
Condominium site located on Garvies Point Road. It is not known if
analytical data exists for dredged sediments. The NYS DOH will
obtain data if available.

Natural Resource Use

The tidal portion of the creek is located in an industrial area and
access to the water by the public is limited. Recreational use is
concentrated at the Hempstead Harbor end of the creek. The creek
is an access point for recreational boating and fishing in
Hempstead Harbor and Long Island Sound. Some fishing may occur in
Glen Cove Creek. Shellfishing is closed because of bacterial
contamination. Swimming and wading in the creek does not occur due
to the industrial nature of the creek and because a public beach is
located on Hempstead Harbor at the end of Garvies Point Road.

The area around the site is served by public water. Public water
supply wells are within 3/4-mile of the site. Ground water flow is
to the south-southwest towards Glen Cove Creek, away from any
public water supplies. A water supply well drilled on-site for Wah
Chang Trading Corporation was used for production purposes. The
water supply well is not in use. It has not been determined if
this well still exists.

The New York State Department of Health maintains several health
outcome data bases which could be used to generate site specific
data, if warranted. These data bases include the cancer registry,
the congenital malformations registry, the heavy metals registry,
the occupational lung disease registry, vital records (birth and
death certificates) and hospital discharge information. The NYS
DOH reviewed cancer incidence in the City of Glen Cove using data
from the New York State Cancer Registry, from the years 1978-1987.
The Health Outcome Data evaluation of this study will be discussed
in the Public Health Implications section.

The community of Glen Cove has expressed concern about this site
and the five other inactive hazardous waste sites in this area.
Local officials of the City of Glen Cove have had an active role in
initiating and overseeing investigations at these sites through
public meetings and direct contact with State and federal
officials. The Mayor of Glen Cove requested a cancer study be done
in the area of the five hazardous waste sites. The public has
raised concerns to the NC DOH and the NYS DOH about present site
conditions, prior conditions which might have affected former
employees of the facility, and the potential for off-site migration
of contaminants, via the groundwater, Glen Cove Creek, and the
ambient air. These concerns will be addressed in the Public Health Implications section.

On December 23, 1992, the NYS DOH sent copies of the Preliminary
Public Health Assessment for the Li Tungsten site to all known
interested parties requesting concerns and comments on the report
by January 22, 1993. The responses to the public comments
received
by the NYS DOH are included in Appendix C.